A woman is cursed with beauty in China and becomes prey for men. Raped by the prefect of her ballet school and sent to work camp, she escapes to decadent Hong Kong by marrying a wealthy banker. She finds herself drawn to sadomasochistic affairs and in flashbacks discovers she is the reincarnation of a famous courtesan of ancient China....

Award-winning drama deals with the many in Mailand China who dream of emigration to the U.S. Set primarily in New York City, the film follows Zhou who follows his wife's journey to America - and the tough surprises in store for him in the "Promised Land."...